OneMoreMile wrote:Glad to hear this got off the fast track!
Does anyone have a copy of the actual language we want? Rep Slavin was very receptive to talking to us - in fact, she asked to be invited to a forum of mountain bikers or to attend a trail maintenance event. If I talk to her, I would like to know how we actually want the language to read.
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These amendments are in rough form and would need to be reworked, but hopefully it will give you an idea of what we are looking for.
Michigan Mountain Biking Association
Proposed Amendments to HB 4684 (H-5)
The first amendment deals with the definition of “pack and saddle trailways.” Although we appreciate the fact that the H-5 version of the bill limited this somewhat, we are still concerned that it is broad enough to cause confusion in the future. Therefore, we request that the changes to the current definition be stricken.
Section 72101 (h): delete new language and retain current law for the definition of “Pack and saddle trailways”
The second amendment would clarify that they DNR director maintained the authority to segregate trails by user group. We feel that this is necessary in order to ensure there is a “traffic cop” who can make binding decisions about trail usage. We worded the amendment to minimize the possibility of discrimination against any type of trail user group.
Section 72115 (1)(b), rewrite as the following:
(B) IF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT A RESTRICTION OF 1 OR MORE RECREATIONAL USES ON A PARTICULAR TRAIL SEGMENT IS NECESSARY TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS BETWEEN USER GROUPS THAT AFFECT SAFETY, HEALTH, AND THE OVERALL ENJOYMENT OF DNR MANAGED LANDS, PROVIDED THAT ANY TRAIL USERS RESTRICTED FROM A PARTICULAR TRAIL SEGMENT HAVE REASONABLY EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OTHER TRAIL SEGMENTS WITHIN THE SAME LOCALITY. IF AN ORDER IS ISSUED UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST A NOTICE AT THE TRAILHEAD DESCRIBING THE RESTRICTIONS.